Justintoxicated
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hey guys, been a while since I posted here.
Currently I am looking to upgrade the 35 watt HIDs on my atv with something a little less power hungry.
My setup is currently 2 MR16 size HID's on the bars and 2 35 watt HIDs mounted to the frame. The 35s are wicked bright, and great when out in the dunes for navigating at distance. They are not as great for close up riding. The MR16 HID's take care of that well though. The problem is my stator can really only handle about 120 watts safer is probably 110 (It's a 200 watt stator but it has to do a DC conversion). Of course it is also not putting this out at idle. Battery is Odyssey PC310
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NGKT6O/?tag=cpf0b6-20
Picture from 2009
Banshee by Glamisduner, on Flickr
The issues with this setup is that unless I have a new battery and full charge eventually one light will shut off and I have to take care to shut off the Big lights when we come to a stop. The other issue I have is warm up time. The guys I ride with like to start up and go, and I have this horrible warm up time.
I think a new battery would get me up and running again (this is is obviously about 6 years old now and get abused). It still measures about 12.6v not under a load, and with one trip left this year I'll probably hold off until next year to replace it.
What I'm thinking to get are some 18-20 watt LED lights to mount on the frame. Rigid seems to be the best brand but they are pricy. I'd like to find a knock off version of the same thing.
These are dirt cheap, might require sealing the lenses myself with silicon but thats not too bad:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G620ZVU/?tag=cpf0b6-20
The reviews say they are not as bright as the rigid Dually D2's but those are 30 watts and use 5 watt LED's which might be an issue where as these are 18 watts. I have always thought LED efficiency is typically better using more LEDs than fewer but I'm not up to date, and efficiency is key here.
Open to suggestions! Even those that deviate from my plan. Just spend the money and put rigid high powered but semi compact light bar on the handlebars? Just put a curved 120 watt LED bar on the frame and I won't need lights on the bars? Keep the giant HIDs and put some 20 watt dually D2 style lights on the bars?
I'm tempted to try the $40 lights and keep the MR16 HID's on the bars (they are floods). Please advise.
Currently I am looking to upgrade the 35 watt HIDs on my atv with something a little less power hungry.
My setup is currently 2 MR16 size HID's on the bars and 2 35 watt HIDs mounted to the frame. The 35s are wicked bright, and great when out in the dunes for navigating at distance. They are not as great for close up riding. The MR16 HID's take care of that well though. The problem is my stator can really only handle about 120 watts safer is probably 110 (It's a 200 watt stator but it has to do a DC conversion). Of course it is also not putting this out at idle. Battery is Odyssey PC310
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NGKT6O/?tag=cpf0b6-20
Picture from 2009
Banshee by Glamisduner, on Flickr
The issues with this setup is that unless I have a new battery and full charge eventually one light will shut off and I have to take care to shut off the Big lights when we come to a stop. The other issue I have is warm up time. The guys I ride with like to start up and go, and I have this horrible warm up time.
I think a new battery would get me up and running again (this is is obviously about 6 years old now and get abused). It still measures about 12.6v not under a load, and with one trip left this year I'll probably hold off until next year to replace it.
What I'm thinking to get are some 18-20 watt LED lights to mount on the frame. Rigid seems to be the best brand but they are pricy. I'd like to find a knock off version of the same thing.
These are dirt cheap, might require sealing the lenses myself with silicon but thats not too bad:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G620ZVU/?tag=cpf0b6-20
The reviews say they are not as bright as the rigid Dually D2's but those are 30 watts and use 5 watt LED's which might be an issue where as these are 18 watts. I have always thought LED efficiency is typically better using more LEDs than fewer but I'm not up to date, and efficiency is key here.
Open to suggestions! Even those that deviate from my plan. Just spend the money and put rigid high powered but semi compact light bar on the handlebars? Just put a curved 120 watt LED bar on the frame and I won't need lights on the bars? Keep the giant HIDs and put some 20 watt dually D2 style lights on the bars?
I'm tempted to try the $40 lights and keep the MR16 HID's on the bars (they are floods). Please advise.
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